Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A communications device comprising: a wireless radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and a controller coupled to said wireless RF transceiver and configured to determine a plurality of received signal characteristics and perform a spectral estimation operation associated with a frequency spectrum on the plurality of received signal characteristics, determine a channel selection method characteristic associated with a channel in the frequency spectrum comprising a plurality of channels, generate a plurality of statistical values for each channel based upon the plurality of received signal characteristics, and select a portion of the frequency spectrum for a signal to be transmitted by said wireless RF transceiver based upon the spectral estimation operation, the plurality of statistical values, and the channel selection method characteristic.
A communications device has a radio and a controller. The controller analyzes received signals to estimate the spectrum (spectral estimation), considering various channels within that spectrum. It also figures out a method for selecting channels. Based on the spectrum estimation, statistical values of the received signal in each channel, and the channel selection method, the controller chooses the best part of the spectrum for sending a signal from the radio.
2. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to generate a quality metric value for each possible portion of the spectrum for the signal to be transmitted; and wherein said controller selects the portion of the spectrum further based upon the quality metric values.
The communications device from the previous description (radio and controller selecting spectrum) improves spectrum selection by calculating a "quality metric" for each possible spectrum portion for transmission. The controller then picks the spectrum portion not just based on spectrum estimation, signal statistics, and the channel selection method, but also on these quality metric values. This helps ensure the selected spectrum is the best available option.
3. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to select the portion of the spectrum further based upon at least one received signal strength characteristic.
The communications device from the first description (radio and controller selecting spectrum) also takes into account the received signal strength when choosing the spectrum. So, the controller selects the best spectrum portion to transmit on based on the spectrum estimation, signal statistics, channel selection method, AND at least one measurement of how strong the received signals are. This allows the device to favor channels with good reception.
4. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to select the portion of the spectrum further based upon the plurality of statistical values.
In the communications device from the first description (radio and controller selecting spectrum), the selection of the spectrum to transmit on is also based on the statistical values calculated for each channel from the received signal characteristics. So the spectrum is selected using the spectral estimation, channel selection method and statistical values derived from signal characteristics. This adds another layer of criteria for selection.
5. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to generate a signal-to -noise value profile for each channel based upon the plurality of statistical values.
The communications device from the first description (radio and controller selecting spectrum) also generates a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) profile for each channel, derived from the statistical values of the received signals. This profile is essentially a measure of how clean each channel is. This can be used in determining the preferred channel for transmission.
6. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to perform spectrum compensation on results of the spectral estimation operation.
The communications device from the first description (radio and controller selecting spectrum) performs spectrum compensation on the spectral estimation results. This means it adjusts or corrects the initial spectrum estimate to account for known distortions or biases, leading to a more accurate assessment of spectrum availability.
7. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of received signal characteristics comprises a plurality of received sample values.
In the communications device from the first description (radio and controller selecting spectrum), the "received signal characteristics" are actually a collection of individual signal samples. The controller uses these samples to perform its spectral estimation and other calculations for selecting the best spectrum.
8. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said wireless RF transceiver is configured to operate in a high frequency (HF) range and with a channel width greater than 3 kHz.
The radio within the communications device from the first description (radio and controller selecting spectrum) operates in the High Frequency (HF) range, and uses a channel width greater than 3 kHz. This focuses the operation of the device in a specific portion of the radio spectrum.
9. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to select the portion of the spectrum based upon a cognitive radio process.
The communications device from the first description (radio and controller selecting spectrum) uses a "cognitive radio process" to choose the spectrum to transmit on. This implies the system intelligently learns from its environment and adapts its spectrum selection strategy over time, based on real-world conditions.
10. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to determine the plurality of received signal characteristics and the channel selection method characteristic, and perform the spectrum estimation method simultaneously.
In the communications device from the first description (radio and controller selecting spectrum), the controller determines the received signal characteristics and the channel selection method at the same time as it performs the spectrum estimation. This concurrent operation increases the efficiency of the spectrum selection process.
11. A communications device comprising: a wireless radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to operate in a high frequency (HF) range and with a channel width greater than 3 kHz; and a controller coupled to said wireless RF transceiver and configured to determine a plurality of received signal characteristics and perform a spectral estimation operation associated with a frequency spectrum on the plurality of received signal characteristics, determine a channel selection method characteristic associated with a channel in the frequency spectrum comprising a plurality of channels, generate a plurality of statistical values for each channel based upon the plurality of received signal characteristics, and select a portion of the frequency spectrum for a signal to be transmitted by said wireless RF transceiver based upon the spectral estimation operation, the channel selection method characteristic, the plurality of statistical values, and at least one received signal strength characteristic.
A communications device has a radio, operating in HF range with a channel width greater than 3 kHz, and a controller. The controller analyzes received signals to estimate the spectrum (spectral estimation), considering various channels. It also determines a method for selecting channels. Based on the spectrum estimation, the channel selection method, statistical values derived from the received signals in each channel, and received signal strength, the controller chooses the best spectrum portion for transmission from the radio.
12. The communications device of claim 11 wherein said controller is configured to generate a quality metric value for each possible portion of the spectrum for the signal to be transmitted; and wherein said controller selects the portion of the spectrum further based upon the quality metric values.
The communications device from the previous description (HF radio, and controller selecting spectrum) improves spectrum selection by calculating a "quality metric" for each possible spectrum portion for transmission. The controller then picks the spectrum portion based on spectrum estimation, signal statistics, channel selection method, received signal strength, AND these quality metric values. This helps ensure the selected spectrum is the best available option.
13. The communications device of claim 11 wherein said controller is configured to select the portion of the spectrum further based upon the plurality of statistical values.
In the communications device from the description including the HF radio (radio and controller selecting spectrum), the controller also takes into account the statistical values to choose the spectrum to transmit on, in addition to using spectrum estimation, channel selection method, and signal strength.
14. The communications device of claim 11 wherein said controller is configured to generate a signal-to-noise value profile for each channel based upon the plurality of statistical values.
The communications device from the description including the HF radio (radio and controller selecting spectrum) also generates a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) profile for each channel based upon statistical values. This SNR profile assists in determining a preferred channel for transmission.
15. The communications device of claim 11 wherein said controller is configured to perform spectrum compensation on results of the spectral estimation operation.
The communications device from the description including the HF radio (radio and controller selecting spectrum) performs spectrum compensation on the results of spectral estimation. This ensures a more accurate estimation of spectrum availability.
16. A communications device comprising: a wireless radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and a controller coupled to said wireless RF transceiver and configured to determine a plurality of received signal characteristics for a signal received in each channel of a plurality of channels, perform a spectral estimation operation for each channel using the plurality of received signal characteristics, determine a plurality of first metric values representing a power of noise and interference value for the received signal in each channel on which spectral estimation has been performed, determine at least one first statistical characteristic based upon the plurality of first metric values for the at least one channel, determine a plurality of received signal strength measurements of the received signal in each channel based upon a known signal, determine at least one second statistical characteristic based upon the plurality of received signal strength measurements, determine a plurality of second quality metrics for a portion of the at least one channel using the at least one first statistical characteristic and the at least one second statistical characteristic, using the plurality of second quality metrics, select at least one portion of at least one channel for use in radio communications, and using the plurality of second quality metrics and the selected at least one channel, select at least one transmission characteristic to be used in the radio communications on at least one selected portion of at least one channel.
A communications device contains a radio and a controller. The controller analyzes received signals in each channel to perform spectrum estimation. It calculates noise and interference levels, and uses these levels to determine statistical characteristics for the channels. It also measures received signal strength based on known signals and calculates statistical characteristics from these measurements. Quality metrics are calculated for channel portions using noise/interference statistics and signal strength statistics. The device then chooses a channel portion for communication based on the quality metrics, and chooses the transmission characteristics to use on that channel portion, again based on quality metrics.
17. The communications device of claim 16 wherein said controller is configured to obtain the plurality of received signal strength measurements and the at least one second statistical characteristic from an Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) channel selection method.
In the communication device described, the controller gathers the received signal strength measurements and the statistical characteristic related to signal strength using an Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) channel selection method.
18. The communications device of claim 17 wherein the ALE channel selection method is based upon at least one of MIL-STD-188-141 and NATO standard STANAG 4538.
In the communication device described where ALE channel selection is used, the ALE standard is based on either MIL-STD-188-141 or NATO standard STANAG 4538.
19. The communications device of claim 16 wherein said controller is configured to perform the spectral estimation operation including a spectrum compensation process.
A communications device includes a controller configured to perform spectral estimation operations, which involve analyzing the frequency components of a signal to determine its spectral characteristics. The device addresses challenges in accurately estimating signal spectra, particularly in noisy or dynamic environments where traditional methods may fail to provide reliable results. The spectral estimation process enhances signal processing by improving frequency resolution and reducing estimation errors, which is critical for applications such as wireless communications, radar systems, and audio processing. The controller is further configured to perform a spectrum compensation process as part of the spectral estimation operation. This compensation process adjusts the estimated spectrum to correct for distortions or inaccuracies introduced by the signal acquisition system, environmental factors, or inherent limitations of the estimation algorithm. By compensating for these factors, the device achieves a more accurate representation of the true signal spectrum, leading to improved performance in tasks such as signal detection, modulation recognition, and interference mitigation. The communications device may include additional components, such as an antenna for receiving signals, an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the received signals, and a memory for storing spectral data. The controller processes the digitized signals to extract spectral information, applies compensation techniques to refine the estimates, and outputs the corrected spectrum for further analysis or decision-making. This approach ensures robust and reliable spectral estimation in real-world applications.
20. The communications device of claim 16 wherein said controller is configured to select the at least one portion of at least one channel for use in the radio communications using at least one traffic metric.
In the communications device described where channel quality metrics are used, the selection of the channel for communication is also determined using a traffic metric.
21. The communications device of claim 16 wherein said controller is configured to select the at least one portion of at least one channel for use in the radio communications using a desired Quality of Service (QoS) for traffic.
In the communications device described where channel quality metrics are used, the selection of the channel for communication is also determined using a desired Quality of Service (QoS) for the data traffic.
22. The communications device of claim 16 wherein said controller is configured to select the at least one portion of at least one channel for use in the radio communications using at least one of potential spectrum occupancy information and interference information from a source comprising a database.
In the communications device described where channel quality metrics are used, the selection of a channel for communication considers spectrum occupancy information and interference information from a database source.
23. The communications device of claim 16 wherein said wireless RF transceiver is configured to operate in a high frequency (HF) range and with a channel width greater than 3 kHz.
The communications device described where channel quality metrics are used, operates in the High Frequency (HF) range and uses a channel width greater than 3 kHz.
24. A wireless communication system comprising: a plurality of communications devices communicating with each other, each communications device comprising a wireless radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and a controller coupled to said wireless RF transceiver and configured to determine a plurality of received signal characteristics for a signal received in each channel of a plurality of channels, perform a spectral estimation operation for each channel using the plurality of received signal characteristics, determine a plurality of first metric values representing a power of noise and interference value for the received signal in each channel on which spectral estimation has been performed, determine at least one first statistical characteristic based upon the plurality of first metric values for the at least one channel, determine a plurality of received signal strength measurements of the received signal in each channel based upon a known signal, determine at least one second statistical characteristic based upon the plurality of received signal strength measurements, determine a plurality of second quality metrics for a portion of the at least one channel using the at least one first statistical characteristic and the at least one second statistical characteristic, using the plurality of second quality metrics, select at least one portion of at least one channel for use in radio communications, and using the plurality of second quality metrics and the selected at least one portion of at least one channel, select at least one transmission characteristic to be used in the radio communications on the selected at least one portion of at least one channel.
A wireless communication system is comprised of multiple communications devices that communicate with one another. Each device analyzes received signals in each channel to perform spectrum estimation. It calculates noise and interference levels, and uses these levels to determine statistical characteristics for the channels. It also measures received signal strength based on known signals and calculates statistical characteristics from these measurements. Quality metrics are calculated for channel portions using noise/interference statistics and signal strength statistics. The device then chooses a channel portion for communication based on the quality metrics, and chooses the transmission characteristics to use on that channel portion, again based on quality metrics.
25. The wireless communication system of claim 24 wherein said controller of each communications device is configured to share at least one of the plurality of first metric values, the at least one first statistical characteristic, the plurality of received signal strength measurements, and the at least one second statistical characteristic with other communications devices.
In the wireless communication system, the communication devices are configured to share the following information with one another: metric values, statistical characteristics, received signal strength measurements, and signal strength statistical characteristics.
26. The wireless communication system of claim 24 wherein said controller of each communications device is configured to select the at least one portion of at least one channel for use in radio communications based upon the shared data received from other communications.
In the wireless communication system, each device selects a portion of a channel to use for communication based upon data shared with other communication devices within the system.
27. A method of operating a communications device including a wireless radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and a controller coupled thereto, the method comprising: using the controller to determine a plurality of received signal characteristics and perform a spectral estimation operation associated with a frequency spectrum on the plurality of received signal characteristics, the frequency spectrum comprising a plurality of channels; using the controller to generate a plurality of statistical values for each channel based upon the plurality of received signal characteristics; using the controller to determine a channel selection method characteristic associated with a channel in the frequency spectrum; and using the controller to select a portion of the frequency spectrum for a signal to be transmitted by the wireless RF transceiver of the communications device based upon the spectral estimation operation, the plurality of statistical values, and the channel selection method characteristic.
A communications device method involves determining received signal characteristics, performing spectrum estimation, and generating statistical values for channels within a frequency spectrum. The controller determines a channel selection method and, based on the spectrum estimation, statistical values, and channel selection method, picks a spectrum portion to transmit on.
28. The method of claim 27 further comprising using the controller to generate a quality metric value for each possible portion of the spectrum for the signal to be transmitted; and wherein selecting the portion of the spectrum is further based upon the quality metric values.
The method in the previous description (analyzing signals, calculating statistics, and selecting spectrum) further includes calculating quality metric values for each potential spectrum portion. The selection process is then based on these quality metrics in addition to spectrum estimation, signal statistics and channel selection method.
29. The method of claim 27 wherein selecting the portion of the spectrum is further based upon at least one received signal strength characteristic.
The method in the description above (analyzing signals, calculating statistics, and selecting spectrum) further includes choosing a spectrum to transmit on considering signal strength. The selection is then based on signal strength in addition to spectrum estimation, signal statistics and channel selection method.
30. The method of claim 27 wherein selecting the portion of the spectrum is further based upon the plurality of statistical values.
In the method for selecting a channel (analyzing signals, calculating statistics, and selecting spectrum), the selection of a channel is also based upon the statistical values for received signal characteristics.
31. The method of claim 27 further comprising using the controller to generate a signal-to-noise value profile for each channel based upon the plurality of statistical values.
The method in the description above (analyzing signals, calculating statistics, and selecting spectrum) further includes generating a signal-to-noise (SNR) profile for each channel from statistical values.
32. The method of claim 27 further comprising using the controller to perform spectrum compensation on results of the spectral estimation operation.
The method in the description above (analyzing signals, calculating statistics, and selecting spectrum) includes performing spectrum compensation as part of the spectral estimation process.
33. The method of claim 27 further comprising operating the wireless RF transceiver in a high frequency (HF) range and with a channel width greater than 3 kHz.
The method in the description above (analyzing signals, calculating statistics, and selecting spectrum) includes operating the radio at a High Frequency (HF) range and using a channel width greater than 3 kHz.
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September 30, 2014
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